GENERAL INFORMATION
NEW THIS YEAR Changes from last season are printed in blue throughout this guide to assist you in noticing those changes. BEAR Bear season regulations were still pending legislative approval when this guide went to press. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is proposing to expand the number of counties in the Bear Zone, create an Archery/Crossbow season, expand the chase area, and establish a harvest quota for each bear season. Please call 1-800-858-1549 or visit fw.ky.gov for the details on Kentucky’s 2013-14 bear seasons. ELK The number of elk permits issued through the general quota hunt drawing will increase from 900 to 1,000. The 16-county elk restoration zone has been divided into North AtLarge and South At-Large, and three Limited Entry Areas (LEAs) have been established. This means elk hunters will have a choice of five areas to hunt. Two WMAs have been desig-
nated Active Restoration Areas, and are off limits to elk hunting – Fishtrap WMA in the North At-Large Area, and southernmost parcel of Corrigan WMA in the South At-Large Area. There is no restriction on the number of people who can accompany an elk hunter. The three-day youth elk hunt on Paul Van Booven WMA has been replaced with a special youth-only permit (10 permits will be awarded) that allows youth hunters to hunt during all seasons, but they must decide where they wish to hunt, or they will be assigned an area. On Jan. 1, 2014, applications will go on sale for the 2014-15 Kentucky elk quota hunts. The application period is now Jan. 1 through April 30. Hazard LEA, with 77,200 acres in Breathitt, Knott and Perry counties. It includes 14,120 acres open to public hunting. Caney LEA, with 16,665 acres in Floyd and Knott counties. It includes 3,720 acres open to public hunting. Straight Creek LEA, with 118,081 acres in Bell, Clay, Harlan and Leslie counties. It includes 55,189 acres open to public hunting. The North At-Large Area is 1.7 million acres and is composed of all or parts of nine counties, bordered by Martin County on the north and Perry County on the South. The South At-Large Area
is 2.2 million acres and is composed of all or parts of eleven counties, bordered by Breathitt County on the north and McCreary County on the South. The boundary between the North and South At-Large Areas runs through four counties – Breathitt, Perry, Knott and Letcher. FURBEARERS A change in the coyote hunting regulations was still pending legislative approval when this guide went to press. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is proposing to allow coyote hunting after daylight hours, with restrictions on when lights and night-vision equipment may be used. Please call 1-800-858-1549 or visit fw.ky.gov for the details on coyote hunting after daylight hours. Air guns, with a minimum of .22 caliber, may be used to take furbearers. SMALL GAME .25 caliber air guns may be used to take small game. An open wild quail hunt will be held on the Sinclair Unit of Peabody WMA during quail season. The shooting hours, Monday through Saturday, are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., local time; closed on Sundays. Hunters must check in and check out at the Peabody WMA office, and a hunting log must be visibly displayed on the dashboard of the hunter’s vehicle.
2013-14 KENTUCKY HUNTING SEASONS DEER Modern Gun
2
Zone 1
Zone 2
Nov. 9-24, 2013 (either sex)
Zone 3
Zone 4
Nov. 9-18, 2013 (either sex)
Nov. 9-18, 2013 (antlered only)
Archery
Sept. 7, 2013 - Jan. 20, 2014 (either sex)
Crossbow
Oct. 1-20 and Nov. 9 - Dec. 31, 2013 (either sex)
Muzzleloader
Oct. 19-20 and Dec. 14-22, 2013 (either sex)
Youth-only Firearms
Oct. 12-13, 2013 (either sex)
Free Youth Weekend*
Dec. 28-29, 2013 (either sex)
Sept. 7, 2013 - Jan. 20, 2014 (either sex, except antlered only Oct. 19-20, Nov. 9-18 and Dec. 14-19) Oct. 1-20 and Nov. 9 - Dec. 31, 2013 (either sex, except antlered only Oct. 19-20, Nov. 9-18 and Dec. 14-19) Oct. 19-20, Nov. 9-18 and Dec. 14-19, 2013 (antlered only) and Dec. 20-22 (either sex)
*During the Free Youth Deer Hunting Weekend, hunters ages 15 and under may hunt deer with a firearm without a license or deer permit, but must be accompanied by an adult.